Franchise Notes

The GLOBE & MAIL’s Bruce Dowbiggin writes there is a “great opportunity” for the Raptors in “victory-deprived southern Ontario” during the NHL lockout. The Toronto-area sports scene is "ripe to embrace a winner, any winner." Dowbiggin writes, “Win 35 games and the locals will take you to their heart. Win 40 games and they might throw you a parade down Yonge Street.” Still, the Raptors “lack a certain basketball je ne sais quoi.” Dowbiggin: “Is it too much to ask for a pinch of magic dust? Just a little glitter to get [TSN announcer] Rod Black’s cliche machine rolling?" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/1).

CLEVELAND'S ROCK?In Cleveland, Bud Shaw wrote because Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert is “invested emotionally and financially,” he has “stood out as the city's favorite owner against ... less than stiff competition.” All fans ask of a Cleveland owner “is that he want to win and be willing to spend to do it,” and that is “an awfully low bar.” Gilbert has “benefited from it to some extent during an arduous rebuild,” and has “improved the game-night experience" at Quicken Loans Arena in addition to building a new Cavs practice facility (CLEVELAND.com, 10/31).

SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS:In Ft. Lauderdale, Craig Davis reported the Dolphins are “waiving service fees on purchases” from noon ET today until noon Friday to “help drive ticket sales” for the remaining home games at Sun Life Stadium. The special offer “includes all of the team’s remaining home games and will eliminate the processing/convenience fees, credit card fees and standard delivery costs associated with the costs of purchasing a game ticket.” The no-fee offer is “available exclusively on dolphins.com” (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 10/31).